Chapter 774

The emperor ordered that the ministers be summoned to study the current situation.

Seeing that the emperor had regained his senses, Xu Jianqiang asked, "what should we do about Zhu Gong and Zhang Kewei?"

The Emperor just made a decree to punish the two of them, cut off their fame and destroy the nine nationalities. This is the most severe punishment. The emperor has also used this method to punish ministers before, but generally it is not a civilian official who has been stripped of military power and sent to prison for participation, such as yuan Chonghuan and others.

But this is not Zhu Xieyuan. He has 100000 troops in his hand, and he is also one of the few tough and powerful officials in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Xieyuan is a hard man and has his own set of rules, but he won't listen to the people around the ministers in the court. He thinks that during the extravagant Chongming rebellion, the enemy wreaked havoc in Sichuan and plundered countless lands. Both the court and the emperor ordered him not to go home for mourning, but the goods, no matter what, stripped off his official clothes, threw them on the ground, turned around and left.

Moreover, among so many officials in the Ming Dynasty, he is also the most personalized person. Hong Chengchou and Yang Sichang just boast, while Zhu Xieyuan is really personalized.

Who dares to kill all the prisoners of the Chinese army, and only Zhu Xieyuan dares to do so?

This is not only a talent of an owl, but also an unfathomable figure. If we say to reduce his fame and kill his nine families, once he revolts, I don't know what consequences will be caused?

Emperor Chongzhen also understood this. Was he afraid of the other party's rebellion? So many people rebelled, not many more, not many less. The situation in Daming was only worse, not the worst.

The only thing he worries about is that Zhu Xieyuan is a rare loyal minister in the Ming Dynasty. The emperor knows Zhu Xieyuan's absolute loyalty.

This is why he killed all the prisoners of the Chinese army. If he did so, he would lose his way and would never have any contact with the Chinese army again.

Unlike other officials and generals, when fighting with the Chinese army, it's you who come and go, look around, and stay on the front line. It's good to meet each other in the future. If even such people rebel, there will be no loyal people around him.

The reason why he called out such retaliatory measures was that he was really angry just now. Now he calmed down and dared not think so.

So he went down the slope and asked Xu Jianqiang, "what do you think?"

Xu Jianqiang said, "Zhu Xieyuan's ineffective combat and humiliation to his teachers and the country should be demoted and fined as an example. The defeat of Yiling lies entirely in Sichuan governor Zhang Youwei's bravery and recklessness and belittle the general intention of the enemy, which caused the annihilation of the army and dragged Zhu Xieyuan down. All his fame should be cut off as a punishment."

Xu Jianqiang's practice is the standard practice of the imperial court, that is, to push all the charges to the defeated person and to the substitute.

His words are in line with the emperor's wishes. You know, it's not easy to be an emperor now. With the rebellion of the Liu family, more and more people turned to the Chinese army, and fewer and fewer people are available around him.

For these ministers, who is working for, not working for? Who is an official, not an official? It's not easy for Daming to be an official now. It's better to change and become an official in the Chinese army.

It is because these people have such ideas that they do not contribute to their work. When the Chinese army comes to the city, they open the city gate, offer the city and continue to be officials without pressure.

After all, the Chinese army is also a member of the Han nationality. A member of the Han nationality is not an alien. Surrender to them is just a change of master. What's the difference between being an official for Zhu Ming and being an official for China? They are all officials.

Because these people have such ideas, surrender will become popular. Zhu Xieyuan put an end to many people's ideas on this side. He is really a big loyal minister!

He is not only a loyal minister, but also one of the few people who continue to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty. How can the emperor punish and dare to punish such a person?

So even though emperor Chongzhen had all kinds of discontent and unhappiness, he finally decided to do so first.

Xu Jianqiang said, "when Zhu Gong's army retreats to Henan, their grain and military pay will become a big problem."

Hundreds of thousands of troops have no food and pay. I'm afraid it's difficult to gain a foothold in Henan.

Emperor Chongzhen said, "what can you do, Xu Qing?" emperor Chongzhen saw Xu Jianqiang's ability.

This person doesn't learn to have skills. He can't do it if he asks him to do an article, but he has a way to make money.

There is no shortage of people around the emperor who can boast and write articles, but there are few people who can make money. Therefore, Xu Jianqiang has become the one he needs most. At least Xu Jianqiang has never disappointed him in the things he is responsible for.

Xu Jianqiang said, "Wei Chen has a clever plan. I don't know if the emperor dares to use it?"

The emperor sighed and said, "at this point, if you have anything, just say it? You don't have to hide it."

When Xu Jianqiang saw that there were so many palace maids and eunuchs in the imperial study, he looked at them. The emperor knew what he meant and that he was afraid of people with many ears. He waved his hand and let others go out. There were only Wang Chengen, Xu Jianqiang and the emperor in the whole Imperial study.

Wang Chengen was the one whom emperor Chongzhen trusted most. If Wang Chengen could not be trusted, there would be no one around him.

To be honest, his trust in Wang Chengen is far above Xu Jianqiang. This is a friendship for decades, which can not be easily compared with others.

Xu Jianqiang said his own way.

After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen was very angry. He said, "you are going to put me in a place of injustice. What will you look like in the future? See all royal families."

Xu Jianqiang said: "when it comes to the rules, the minister has no way, which is the only way the minister can think of. If you don't use this move, there will be no way to get enough food for Zhu Gong's army. They are just a few days away from collapse."

Emperor Chongzhen looked pale and said, "if you do this, everyone in the world will hate me, and I have no face to see the emperor Shenzong!"

Xu Jianqiang said, "please think twice, but Weichen should make it clear that the winner is not blamed, and the loser doesn't care about blame."

After hearing this, the emperor was silent for a moment. After all, he couldn't make up his mind. He said, "let me think about it."

Seeing that the emperor had nothing to say, Xu Jianqiang withdrew.

Wang Chengen sent Xu Jianqiang out. He said, "brother Xu, aren't you afraid to be pointed at by thousands of people for your work?"

Xu Jianqiang said: "a person can have today's scenery, all rely on the grace of the emperor and live according to Daming. If Daming is gone, he will have nothing. Therefore, in order to help and protect Daming, he is willing to do anything."

Wang Chengen said, "everyone understands this truth, but few are willing to do so. Which of the civil and military princes of the Manchu Dynasty is not a smart man, but when things come to an end, several are willing to serve the emperor."

Xu Jianqiang also knew this. Originally, he was full of respect for the ministers in the imperial court. However, after dealing with these people, he knew that these people were superficial saints and actually villains. Even Xu Jianqiang despised such people and didn't want to be with them.

Xu Jianqiang just went out of the imperial study. Before he went out of the palace, a little eunuch came in a hurry. He said, "father-in-law Xu, the empress summoned."

As soon as Xu Jianqiang heard that the empress summoned him, he dared not delay at all. He immediately made a gesture to lead the way, bowed to Wang Chengen, and followed the little eunuch to the Kunning palace.

Xu Jianqiang is a powerful figure in the imperial court. He is also a figure second only to Wang Chengen among eunuchs. However, as a eunuch, he is different from other eunuchs.

Other eunuchs mainly serve the emperor and flatter the emperor and queen, so most of them live in the palace and have a lot of contacts, many disciples and grandchildren.

Only Xu Jianqiang, his influence has always been outside the palace and developed outside the imperial palace. He has no disciples and grandchildren in the palace, not even a residence.

Xu Jianqiang has no place like a eunuch except that others are eunuchs.

Xu Jianqiang became the No. 2 figure in the palace, but he had never been to the Kunning palace. He came to the Kunning palace only under the guidance of the little eunuch.

The empress is the second most important person in the Ming Dynasty after the emperor. Although she doesn't care about the government, her status and identity are very high. All civil and military officials must kneel down and salute when they see it. Xu Jianqiang is no exception. She knelt down and knocked her head three times, and then said, "I don't know what's the matter when the empress summoned me?"

Empress Zhou seldom summoned foreign ministers, even eunuchs. Except for the people in the Kunning palace, she basically didn't call anyone else. At the moment, she called Xu Jianqiang because of something. First of all, she praised Xu Jianqiang for doing a lot of practical things for the emperor, which can be regarded as sharing his worries for the emperor.

She said, "if all the princes in the court could be like Xu Tidu, the emperor wouldn't be so worried?"

Xu Jianqiang didn't know why the queen gave him so many high hats, but he said modestly: "Weichen is deeply favored by the emperor. He just does his part and doesn't dare to take credit."

Empress Zhou was very satisfied with Xu Jianqiang's attitude. She nodded and said, "Xu Tidu is not the only one who is deeply indebted to the emperor. There are so many civil and military officials in the court. Which one is not deeply indebted to the emperor, but when Daming is in trouble, how many people are willing to sacrifice their lives and go all out?"

Even though the queen lived in the deep palace, she understood that many ministers were masters and masters of the wind. These people may not be credible at a critical time, but the emperor trusted them very much.

Xu Jianqiang did not dare to take credit and said, "the empress is worried too much. Although the imperial court has difficulties now, it is only temporary. Liu thief and scabies will eventually be flattened. Once Liu thief goes, the world will be peaceful!"

Empress Zhou said, "this palace is not a person who likes to beat around the bush. I really have one thing to ask when I summon Xu Tidu today?"

Xu Jianqiang hurriedly said, "empress, but if you have orders, I dare not obey. I dare not ask for a word."